Automatic fire extinguisher

Abstract

The automatic fire extinguisher is a fire retardant dispensing device. The automatic fire extinguisher is an automated device. The automatic fire extinguisher is an explosive device. The automatic fire extinguisher is a temperature sensitive device that releases a fire retardant in the form of a gas when a predetermined ambient temperature has been reached. The automatic fire extinguisher comprises a compressed retardant gas, a high-pressure gas tank, and an explosive device. The high-pressure gas contains the compressed retardant gas and the explosive device. The explosive device detonates when the ambient temperature reaches when the predetermined ambient temperature is reached. The explosion of the explosive device ruptures the high-pressure gas tank thereby releasing and dispersing the compressed retardant gas into the atmosphere.

The inventor claims: 
     
       1. An automatic fire extinguisher comprising
 a compressed retardant gas, a high-pressure gas tank, and an explosive device; 
 wherein the high-pressure gas tank contains the compressed retardant gas and the explosive device; 
 wherein the automatic fire extinguisher is a device that dispenses a fire retardant; 
 wherein the automatic fire extinguisher is an automated device; 
 wherein the automatic fire extinguisher is a temperature sensitive device; 
 wherein the fire retardant is in the form of a gas when a predetermined ambient temperature has been reached; 
 wherein the explosive device detonates when the ambient temperature reaches when the predetermined ambient temperature is reached; 
 wherein the explosion of the explosive device ruptures the high-pressure gas tank thereby releasing and dispersing the compressed retardant gas into the atmosphere; 
 wherein the high-pressure gas tank contains the compressed retardant gas in a phase selected from the group consisting of a solid phase, a liquid phase, and a compressed gas phase; 
 wherein the compressed retardant gas is selected such that the release of the compressed retardant gas is released into the atmosphere in a gas phase; 
 wherein the compressed retardant gas is an inert gas; 
 wherein the compressed retardant gas is selected such that the release of the compressed retardant gas inhibits the combustion reaction of an existing fire; 
 wherein the compressed retardant gas is selected such that the molecular weight of the compressed retardant gas is greater than the molecular weight of diatomic oxygen; 
 wherein the high-pressure gas tank is a high-pressure rated containment structure; 
 wherein the high-pressure gas tank contains the compressed retardant gas under pressure; 
 wherein the high-pressure gas tank further comprises an internal housing; 
 wherein the internal housing is a rigid casing; 
 wherein the internal housing is contained within the high-pressure gas tank; 
 wherein the internal housing contains the explosive device; 
 wherein the explosive device is a chemical device; 
 wherein the explosive device comprises an explosive compound; 
 wherein the high-pressure gas tank ruptures when the explosive device detonates; 
 wherein the detonation of the explosive device releases and disperses the compressed retardant gas into the atmosphere; 
 wherein the explosive device comprises the explosive material, a detonator, a plurality of thermal switches, and a battery; 
 wherein the explosive material is an explosive chemical compound; 
 wherein the detonator is an electrically powered device; 
 wherein the detonator interconnects with the explosive material such that the detonator initiates the explosion of the explosive material; 
 wherein the actuation of a single individual thermal switch selected from the plurality of thermal switches initiates the operation of the detonator; 
 wherein the battery is an electrochemical device; 
 wherein the battery converts chemical potential energy into the electrical energy used to power the detonator; 
 wherein an explosive material is selected such that the detonation of the explosive material generates a shock wave that travels through the interior of the high-pressure gas tank with a force to rupture the high-pressure gas tank. 
 
     
     
       2. The automatic fire extinguisher according to  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of thermal switches actuates when the ambient temperature surrounding the high-pressure gas tank exceeds the predetermined ambient temperature of the automatic fire extinguisher. 
     
     
       3. The automatic fire extinguisher according to  claim 2 
 wherein each of the plurality of thermal switches is a momentary switch; 
 wherein the plurality of thermal switches comprises a collection of individual thermal switches; 
 wherein the actuation of an individual thermal switch selected from the plurality of thermal switches initiates the operation of the detonator and the explosion of the explosive material. 
 
     
     
       4. The automatic fire extinguisher according to  claim 3 
 wherein the individual thermal switch is an electrical switching device; 
 wherein each individual thermal switch electrically connects in series between the battery and the detonator such that the closure of the individual thermal switch provides the electrical energy required by the detonator to detonate the explosive material. 
 
     
     
       5. The automatic fire extinguisher according to  claim 4 
 wherein each individual thermal switch comprises a normally closed momentary switch, a switch compression spring, and a thermal epoxy detent; 
 wherein the normally closed momentary switch forms the series electrical connection between the battery and the detonator; 
 wherein the switch compression spring is a compression spring that holds the normally closed momentary switch in the closed position when the switch compression spring is in its relaxed shape; 
 wherein the thermal epoxy detent is an epoxy adhesive used to glue the switch compression spring of the normally closed momentary switch in a deformed position such that the normally closed momentary switch is fixed into an open position; 
 wherein the normally closed momentary switch further comprises a first lead and a second lead; 
 wherein the first lead is an electrical termination of the normally closed momentary switch; 
 wherein the second lead is an electrical termination of the normally closed momentary switch. 
 
     
     
       6. The automatic fire extinguisher according to  claim 5  wherein the actuation of the normally closed momentary switch into an open position applies a compressive force to the switch compression spring such that the switch compression spring will return to its relaxed shape to close the normally closed momentary switch when the compressive force is removed. 
     
     
       7. The automatic fire extinguisher according to  claim 6 
 wherein the thermal epoxy detent is formed from a thermal epoxy; 
 wherein the thermal epoxy detent melts at a predetermined temperature; 
 wherein the predetermined temperature of the thermal epoxy used in the thermal epoxy detent is the predetermined ambient temperature of the automatic fire extinguisher; 
 wherein when the temperature around the automatic fire extinguisher reaches the predetermined ambient temperature, the thermal epoxy forming the thermal epoxy detent melts thereby releasing the switch compression spring of the normally closed momentary switch to close the normally closed momentary switch. 
 
     
     
       8. The automatic fire extinguisher according to  claim 7 
 wherein the first lead of the normally closed momentary switch of each individual thermal switch electrically connects to the positive terminal of the battery; 
 wherein the second lead of the normally closed momentary switch of each individual thermal switch electrically connects to the detonator. 
 
     
     
       9. The automatic fire extinguisher according to  claim 8 
 wherein the plurality of thermal switches further comprises a first thermal switch, a second thermal switch, a third thermal switch, and a fourth thermal switch; 
 wherein the position first thermal switch monitors the temperature by a first quadrant of the exterior of the high-pressure gas tank; 
 wherein the position second thermal switch monitors the temperature by a second quadrant of the exterior of the high-pressure gas tank; 
 wherein the position third thermal switch monitors the temperature by a third quadrant of the exterior of the high-pressure gas tank; 
 wherein the position fourth thermal switch monitors the temperature by a fourth quadrant of the exterior of the high-pressure gas tank. 
 
     
     
       10. The automatic fire extinguisher according to  claim 9 
 wherein the second thermal switch electrically connects in parallel with the first thermal switch; 
 wherein the third thermal switch electrically connects in parallel with the first thermal switch and the second thermal switch; 
 wherein the fourth thermal switch electrically connects in parallel with the first thermal switch, the second thermal switch, and the third thermal switch.